Egg case



Oct. 11, 1932. F. H. SHERMAN EGG CASE Filed May 24. 195o 2 Sheets-Sheet /4 -Inveuoim- Firawsl San,

Oct. 11, 1932. F H SHERMAN 1,882,524

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Patented Oct. l1, 1932 PATENT OFFICE y FRANCIS H. SHERMAN, 0F PALMER, MASSACHUSETTS EGG CASE Application led May 24, 1930. Serial No, 455,247.

My present invention relates to ineans for packaging eggs in lotsof a number of dozen, such, for example, asIBO-dozen or crate lots, and more particularly aims to provide a readily scalable substantially air-tight or ventilated, light-Weight and otherwise improved package and case and content lifting or manipulating means therefor, for the shipment of eggs by poultry-men, packers and others, and for distribution, as to warehouses, chain stores and the like.

In thel drawings illustrating, by way of example, certain embodiments of the invention;

Fig. l is a perspective of a complete pack` age embodying the invention, with the top open and showing one of the inner casings or elements during insertion or removal thereof;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through a closed and sealed case or package such as that of Fig. l;

Figs. 3 and 4 show the outer case of con` tainer of Figs. l and 2, and one of the inner casings, respectively, collapsed flatvvise, as for shipment to a user, With the exception that the inner casing member of Fig. 4 is preferably doubled upon itself lengthwise for such shipment; and

Fig. 5 is a partial view, corresponding to Fig. 2, of a modified package also embodying the invention.

Eggs in large lots have heretofore been packed for shipment in standardized wooden crates, divided transversely by permanent wooden partitions. Such crates, are subject to splitting and breaking away at the joints, under the ordinary conditions of transportation. Also, they commonly have longitudinal or other gaps or open portions, rendering them non-air-tight. In accordance with my invention I employ, instead of such nonsealing wooden crate, a resilient, cushioning and non-splitting package, case or container preferably formed wholly of pulp material, such as corrugated paper board or the like, and in which the egg contents may be effec- 'ively sealed, although provisions for ventilation may be made .should any user so prefer.

Referring first to Figs. l and 2, the package as a whole comprises an outer casing or element, indicated in its entirety by the 11unieral 4, and desirably formed from a single sheet of the above material, scored or other- Wise marked for folding into the rectangular form illustrated in said figures. Said outer c asing, as shown, comprises fou'r vertical sides or walls, including the opposite -end Walls 5 and the longitudinal side Walls 6 integrally hinged together at'three corners of the formed case'and hingedly connected and sealed at the fourth corner, as by means of the strip 7 of adhesive tape or thelike.

Along thelower edges of the vertical sides are the bottoni forming members, including the longitudinal bottom members 8 and the end-hinged bottom members 9. In their setup position as in Figs. 1 and 2, it will be noted that said bottom members together provide a casing bottom of double thickness throughout, but either of the pairs of bottom members 8 and 9 may be of less extent in` some instances.

The then under members are secured in position, as by one or more adhesive strips, sealing the bottom, or by other fastening means, such as wire staples. Each of the four bottom membersv herein have an area approximately one-half that of the entire bottom of the case, but they may be otherwise relatively proportioned if desired. Similar top closure members are provided along the upper edges of the case sides, integrally or otherwise hinged thereto, and herein including the longitudinal top-flaps 10 and the end top-flaps l1, together forming a complete or partial double-thick cover for the case, and adapted to be secured or sealed similarly as at the case bottom. 90

It should be particularly noted, referring to Figs. 1 and 3, that the -corrugated paper board there illustrated is so disposed, 1n the formation of the outer casing 4, that the corrugations 4a will extend lengthwise of the 95 case sides and crosswise of its ends, that is, horizontally around the case, rather than vertically. In this manner the case is made specially resistant to horizontal pressures and shocks, and particularly longitudinally, since 10o the corrugated vboard will not readily bufikle.

'folds are brought crosswlse thereof, giving an extremel .strong corner structure, not liable to buc e under vertical pressure.

Within the described outed casing or container are egg-manipulating devices, lifters or inner casmgs or casing elements, herein Itwo, each indicated as a whole by the.numeral 13. These inner casings are likewise formed of pulp or paper material, which may be the same as that of the outer casing. Each as illustrated comprises a single strip of such material, see particularly Fi 4, creased or otherwise marked for fol ing, preferably transversely of its corrugations 13, into rectangular band-like form, includingvhingedly connected bottom, top and two opposite side walls 14, 15 and 16, respectively, the vertical sides being o en in the illustrative example. Tuck or ap sections 17 and l18 may be provided at one or both ends of theinner casing strips. As herein shown, one such tuck 17 is provided along the free ed e of one vertical wall 16, being adapted to fo d over inwardly, to lie fiat-wise kagainst and preferably below the top wall 15. The other l in one-dozen or other lots.

. there are fifteen one-dozen 2X6 egg cartons tuck 18, at the free edge of the top wall 15, is arranged to fold downwardly into vertical position against the adjacent side wall 16. Desirably hand-holds 15"L and 17 a are formed in the top member 15 and the tuck 17, respectivel located at substantially equal heights a ove the bottom of each inner casing when it is in set-up form as in'Figs. 1 and 2.

Each inner caslng 13 is constructed and arranged to receive and hold the customary or desired number of dozens of eggs, generally and as herein shown, fifteen dozen, either using the regulation or customary fillers or partitions and flats, as in Fig. 5, or egg cartons holding one dozen or one-half dozen, each placed in five layers of three dozen eggs each. In the package of Figs. 1 and 2 the eggs are first placed in cartons 25, As illustrated to each inner casing. The contained eggs are indicated at E in dotted lines in Fig. 1. vThe cartons are shown arranged in juxtaposed stacks, there being in this instance live car- 1f tons to a stack and three stacks, in other words, five carton layers of three cartons each. While the cartons are illustrated as disposed in parallelism in allthe layers, they may be otherwise stacked or arranged, for example, with the cartons of alternate layers at right an overall width equal or substantiall equal Tri to the length -of one carton. Thus t e cartons ma be positioned in the inner casing in either irection. The inner casings themselves, being substantially cubical, may be placed in the outer casings with their open sides either at the longitudinalsides of the outer casing, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or at right anglesvthereto. t Referring to Figs. 1 and 4, the corrugations 13a of the inner casings 13 are arranged len hwise of said elements i-n their form as in ig. 4. Thus when the inner casings are in use position theirlvertical wallsy 16 have the corrugations extendin vertically, giving particular rigidity an strength 1n that direction to these inner casings and hence to the complete case, enabling a number of cases to be piled one on another'with entire safety. In the horizontal Walls 14 and 15 of the inner casings when positioned for use, as in Fig. 1, the corrugations 13a run lengthwise the case, parallel to those of the outer casing 4, thus still further strengthen the case lengthwise. The inner casings as a whole have a general strengthening and additional cushioning ei'ect or the entire case and its contents, by reason of the extra piles of the paper board contributed by them throughout, thus affording greater safety for the fragile contents and decreasing breakage. Moreover, the folds of the inner casings extend crosswise their corrugations 13, making these inner elements strongly .resistant to transverse pressures of the completed case.

If desired, but not necessarily, cushioning flats or plate-like cushioning members 20, of any preferred contruction, may be employed Within the inner casings, above, below and between any or all of the article layers. In Figs. 1 and 2 such cushioning members 20, of like size and shape as the bottom and top walls 14 and 15 of the inner casings 13, are shown below and above the article co'nbottom forming members 8 and 9 are secured in closed positionl as by means of one or more s trlps of adhesive tape, as indicated in dotted lines at 8a 1n Fig. 1. If used, a cushioning llc tents and between the second and third layflat 20 is placed upon the bottom wall 14 of each inner casing and the cartons are piled upon it. intermediate cushioning members being placed between such of the cart-on layers as desired. A top cushion 20, if employed. is laid above the cartons, whereupon each inner easing 13 may be grasped, con'- veniently by the hand-holds 15", 1T in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1, or otherwise.

and let down into position wit-hin the outer casing. I find it preferable to position the inner casings in the manner of Figs. 1 and 2. that is, with their vertical tucks 18 at the then inner vertical walls ofthe two inner casings and I'iatwise against each other. They thus tend to separate these two main inner elements, as seen in Fig. 2, providing an additional cushioning effect between them. The inner casings or containers 13 may obviously be ttted with their egg layers or carton layers,.as the case may be, either before inserting these inner elements in the outer casing 4 or afterwards.

The top members and 11 of the outer casing may then be closed down. the endhinged members 11 preferably heilig placed below the side-hinged members l0, although the reverse procedure may be followed if desired. These members may then be secured or sealed in their closed position, as by wiring or the like or by one or more strips of adhesive tape, seen at. 10 and 11a, Fig. 1, thus completely sealing the case and completing the package. But by reason of the independent and separately removable inner casings or lifters,the entire contents of the case may be thoroughly inspected at any time, even as to the bottom or any intermediate articles, it being necessary merely to open the case and liftv one or both of the inner casings and contents to any extent desired. With egg crates as herebefore employed the bottom or intermediate contents could only7 be inspected by completely unpacking them layer by layer. These sling-like lifters greatly facilitate handling of the egg contents in 15-dozen lots, for a half-section of an egg case of the dozen type, either manually or mechanically.

It has been found, particularly where the eggs are to travel a considerable distance,

that they retain greater fullness in the substantially air-tight case of my invention as above described. The case forms an insulation which resists the effects of sudden changes in heat or cold,'dampness or dryness, and the resulting more even temperature and humidity conditions minimize shrinkage of the egg contents.

It also prevents foreign odors being absorbed by the eggs, to which odors their porous shells make them extremely susceptible. As substantially any odor associated with an egg makes it practically worthless commercially, distinct savings result for this additional reason.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated a package or casemade up with the eggs not in cartons, but disposed in layers of three dozen each within t-he inner casings 13 and in cellular fillers between the cushioning flats Q0. In other respects the package may be the same as in Figs. 1 to 4.

In the illustrated construction it. will be seen that atleast three or more completey layers of the paper or like sheet material are brought below and above the, contained eggs, while at least a double thickness of such material is provided at the case ends. At one corner portion of each inner casing tw'o additional thicknesses of material are supplied by the tucks 17, 1S, either at the inner and inner casings 13 are positioned within the outer container 4.-.

The described case, being constructed wholly of paper or pulp material, is less expensive than the wooden crates and associated means heretofore employed for pai-kaging eggs in O-dozen lots, but is found to provide a strong andrugged package particularly suited to its main purpose of packaging eggs in multi-dozen lots. with or without the use of small-lot cartons. It is relatively light in weight as compared with the former crates particularly adapting it to shipment by express and fast freight. Additionally, the novel paper-material case of my invention affords an excellent advertising medium, as its sides may readily be printed upon in a manner not practicableV with the usual wooden crate heretofore employed.

My invention is not limited to the illustrative. embodiments thereof herein shown and described, its scope being pointed out in my claims as follows:

l. An egg shipping and distributing case formed substantially wholly of fibrous sheet material of a weight and strength corresponding to that of commercial corrugated paper-board, said case comprising; a rectangular outer container, collapsible flatwise, and including four vertical walls and completely-enclosing top and'bottom members; and two inner lifter casing members, each positionable and removable independentlv ot' said outer container, each as a unit including one-half the egg contents of said case, said contents comprising independent laterally slidable egg-container unit-s stacked within said lifter members, each lifter member occupying approximately a one-half portion of the case and each having a substantially rectangular bottom section and two opposite side sections integrally foldably connected with said bottom section, said lifter members being openly constructed at their other two sides for independent lateral sliding of their received container units when said lifter members are partly or Wholly outside the case, each said lifter member constructedto receive and support its portion of said independent container units, whereby said lifter members and the container units stacked in them may be uni-tarilyv lifted and manipulated for inspection and rapid handling purposes.

. 2.Y In combination with an egg case of the SO-dozen type and with independent laterally slidable egg-container units to be stacked therein, an egg inserting and removing element adapted for'loaded reception in and for removal from a half-section of said case, comprising a substantially rectangular' bottomand two opposite side members hinged thereto, said elementbeing open at its other vertical sides and being of fibrous sheet material and constructed and arranged to receive and support for manipulation as a unit a 15-dozen lot of eggs in said independent laterally slidable container units stacked Within said element to constitute the contents of such one-half case section, and engaging means whereby the user may readily remove or insert said contents with respect to the particular case section, for inspection and rapid handling purposes.

ln testimony whereof, l have signed my name to 'this snecication.

renners n. SHERMAN. 

